The Best Denim Shorts for Men Have Crossed the Rubicon

To absolutely no one’s surprise, the first name in jeans also makes our go-to jorts. Levi’s’ denim shorts are likely the image that pops into your head when you think of the category, and that’s no coincidence. We like the 469 fit for its ’90s-esque loose and breezy silhouette, sturdy, all-cotton denim, and range of washes. The 12″ inseam (footlong, baby!) may be intimidating for some folks, but the extra inches are more versatile than you think, especially with the slightly above average rise. And of course, you can easily have them hemmed to your preferred length or chopped off with a raw hem for some retro action.

Best Budget Denim Shorts: Lee Regular-Fit Denim Shorts

Lee

Regular-Fit Denim Short

Material: 100% cotton | Fit: Straight | Colors: Varies | Sizes: 28-42

Jorts don’t have to be a complicated purchase, and they definitely don’t have to be an expensive one. So if you’re looking for a pair that’ll get the job done (the job being looking good) at a very digestible price, Lee’s regular-fit denim shorts are what we suggest. They come in a regular fit and hit just above the knee. Plus, the all-cotton fabric is substantial enough to take plenty of bails and spills. For just $30, it’s a no-brainer.

Best Hard-Working Denim Shorts: Randy’s Garments Straight-Leg Denim Shorts

Randy’s Garments

Straight-Leg Denim Shorts

Material: 100% cotton | Fit: Relaxed, knee-length | Colors: Dark wash, light wash, off-white | Sizes: 30-36

Workwear is firmly planted in the menswear universe, and whether your style leans into the utilitarian aesthetic or you actually need a pair of shorts that can take a lickin’, Randy’s Garments is well worth a look. These shorts are made of a beefy 12-ounce denim, cut and sewn in New York City, and feature utility pockets on both legs. Most workwear brands offer hard-wearing shorts, but very few offer them in a true denim fabric. And even fewer are as well-made and as stylish as these.

Best Designer Denim Shorts: Acne Studios Loose Fit Shorts

Acne Studios

Loose fit shorts

Material: 100% cotton | Fit: Wide, knee-length | Colors: one | Sizes: EU42-54

If you’re here for pure fashion, we’ve got you. There’s no bigger trend in jeans right now than printed denim, and specifically trompe l’oeil. Labels like Maison Margiela, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Our Legacy have all tapped into the technique, but Acne Studios has pushed it to the brink with hyper-realistic details that include paint splatters and chaps. For summer, Acne has taken it to jorts territory with this ultra-baggy number which features a dirty fade and a gang of chains and carabiners.

Best Easy, Elegant Denim Shorts: Drake’s High Waist Denim Drawstring Shorts

Drake’s

High Waist Denim Drawstring Shorts

Material: 100% cotton | Fit: Relaxed, mid-thigh | Colors: Varies | Sizes: S-XL

Drake’s drawstring shorts are proof that you can wear denim on vacation mode (because even the hardest-working fabrics need a break). The pull-on shorts feature an adjustable elastic waist, a roomy cut, mid-thigh length, slanted hand pockets, and rear patch pockets. They’ve got a throwback late-’80s/early-’90s vibe that pairs well with some retro sneakers and a vintage tee, but also look excellent with a button-up shirt and fancy leather sandals.

Best “Go Big or Go Home” Denim Shorts: Loewe X Paula’s Ibiza Denim Shorts

Loewe x Paula’s Ibiza

Wide-Leg Pleated Logo-Appliquéd Denim Shorts

Material: 100% cotton | Fit: Wide, long | Colors: Varies | Sizes: IT46-56

We’re thankful to be living in an age where all shorts inseams and silhouettes are stylish. But the most daring shorts silhouettes blur the line between shorts and pants. Yes, bermuda shorts, capris, culottes—whatever you call them, they’re the shorts that dare to venture into the middle of the no man’s land between the knee and the ankle. It’s the last frontier of the shorts explorers and if you prefer your shorts to be made of denim, look no further than Loewe’s big blue bermudas. Part of Loewe’s collaboration with Paula’s Ibiza, these massive shorts have one foot in vacation-mode and the other in dressy-town. The dark denim has a slight sheen, the fat pleats are striking and slick. (These are the shorts that would swallow Paul Bunyan.) For us, the bigger the shorts, the bigger the fit, and there’s no bigger shorts than these.

More Denim Shorts We Love

Carhartt Work In Progress Indigo Single Knee Denim Shorts

Carhartt Work In Progress

Indigo Single Knee Denim Shorts

Carhartt’s blue-collar main line doesn’t sell denim shorts, but its younger, hipper sibling does—and they’re made to the same freakishly high standards. Work in Progress’ jorts do up the label’s sturdy Smith denim in a perfect wash, roomy fit, and above-the-knee length—and then equips the whole package with pockets aplenty. Whether you’ll actually get around to using any of ’em is another story (remind us what you do for a living again?), but you’ll look cool regardless.

Carson Wach 213 Denim Shorts

Carson Wach

213 Denim Shorts

LA-based jeans specialist Carson Wach has quietly carved out a niche in the denim space, thanks to his small-batch approach to classic, hard-wearing silhouettes, each rendered in top-notch fabrics. His jorts are no exception—and it doesn’t hurt that the back pockets are cool as hell.

Mr P Straight-Leg Denim Shorts

Mr P

Straight-Leg Denim Shorts

As much as we’ve been feeling big, baggy shorts these days, we’ve got love for the cleaner, straight silhouettes out there—and Mr Porter’s in-house label is a great example. It features a washed-out black denim in a tailored straight silhouette that hits mid-thigh—perfect for some dad sandals and a Grateful Dead tee.

Abercrombie & Fitch Loose Denim Short

Abercrombie & Fitch

Loose Denim Short

Denim comes in many flavors, some of which are not actually indigo. Abercrombie’s workwear-inspired shorts feature utility pockets, Carhartt-eque rivets, and a surprisingly beefy denim in a gang of classic workwear colors like this washed-out brown.

Diesel Alston Ripped Denim Shorts

Diesel

Alston Ripped Denim Shorts

If you’re after a pair of denim shorts but can’t find a pair that’s lightweight enough for the blistering heat, peep these joints from Diesel. They’re not, in fact, made from denim and instead use a silky, lightweight viscose fabric with a convincing trompe l’oeil effect printed on top so you can strut your jorts-loving thighs while looking cool as cucumber.

Rick Owens DRKSHDW Pods Cargo Shorts

Rick Owens DRKSHDW

Pods Cargo Shorts

Rick Owens’ Pod shorts are a staple for fashion’s favorite goth. The full fit and drop crotch are distinctive and the added cargo pockets of this version mean you’ve got plenty of room for your Zyn.

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